Community Wildfire Events as a Source of Social Conflict*

Abstract

The literature notes that natural disasters, including wildfires, that damage human settlements often have the short-term effect of ''bringing people together.'' Less recognized is the fact that such events can also generate social conflict at the local level. This study examines the specific sources of such social conflict during and after community wildfire events. Examining qualitative data generated from six case studies of wildfires in the American West, we suggest that integrating the theories of Weber, Giddens, and Habermas with community interaction theory provides a context for understanding such conflict. Rationalized forms of interaction and problem solving imposed by extra-local organizations during and after wildfire events are often resisted by local actors who are also inhibited from acting due to local capacity limitations. Thus, conflict occurs when social relations are disembedded by non-local entities, and there is a perceived loss of local agency.

Modelling spatial patterns and temporal trends of wildfires in Galicia (NW Spain)

“…This result may show the general rejection towards having protected lands in rural areas. This result could also imply an inadequate public policy to manage these areas against wildfires (Carroll et al, 2006). Therefore, the zooning of protection areas may be revised in order to identify the possible social and environmental factors that can be improved when reducing management conflicts.…”

Trust, Social and Personal Attitudes after Wildfires in a Rural Region of Greece

“…Similarly the nature of a disaster may affect in different ways the social dynamics and also the different cultures and social-psychological factors, may affect also the responses to a disaster (Evans & Rollins, 2008). Furthermore, Carroll, Higgins, Cohn, & Burchfield (2006) examined the specific sources of social conflict in communities during and after wildfire in the American West. They found that conflict occurs when social relations are disembedded by non-local agency, and there was an apparent loss of local involvement.…”

How natural disturbance triggers political conflict: Bark beetles and the meaning of landscape in the Bavarian Forest

“…Research has examined aspects such as the perception and social construction of natural disturbance (Champ et al, 2009;Flint, 2006Flint, , 2007McFarlane and Watson, 2008;Whittaker and Mercer, 2004), people's attitudes and support for management strategies (Absher et al, 2006;Bright et al, 2007;Burns and Cheng, 2007;Flint et al, 2009;Kneeshaw et al, 2004;McFarlane et al, 2006), community vulnerability (Collins and Bolin, 2009;Parkins and MacKendrick, 2007) and cohesion and conflict (Carroll et al, 2005;Carroll et al, 2006;Flint and Luloff, 2007). The perception and management preferences of visitors in protected areas affected by natural disturbance have also been the subject of some studies (McFarlane and Watson, 2008;Mü ller and Job, 2009).…”

“…Wild fires lead to both community cohesion and conflict, depending on the geographic location and social and economic histories of communities Carroll et al (2006) Wildfire Six sites in the Western US Semi-structured interviews with community members…”